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body love
“DITCH THE VITAMIN C”
says dietitian Catherine Collins.
“Take vitamin D instead – it enhances
production of a peptide called cathelicidin,
which makes a virus more visible to your
immune system,” Collins explains.“SPICE IT UP”
says nutritional therapist Ian Marber.
“Packing chicken soup with cayenne
pepper, onions and garlic boosts its
anti-viral qualities,” says Marber.
Cayenne relieves a fever by stimulating
the sweat glands, while onions and
garlic are anti-microbial and rich in
allicin, a natural decongestant.“JUMP IN
THE SAUNA”
says Ronald Eccles,
director of Cardiff
University’s Common
Cold Centre in the UK.
For a cold in full swing,
turn up the heat. “Cold
viruses replicate best
at °C, so a sauna can
help stop the virus,”
explains Eccles.“DON’T FIGHT IT” says GP Chris Steele.
“The common cold is just that – common – so trying to fight it is
futile,” says Dr Steele. “People want to fight colds but the more often
you have them, the more resistant you become. If you feel very ill
with achy joints, chills and fatigue, chances are you don’t have just
a cold, so keep an eye on symptoms and see a GP if they get worse.”“TAKE A COLD SHOWER”
says acupuncturist and herbalist
Philip Weeks. It doesn’t sound that
appealing, but a cold shower can help
prevent a cold from starting in the first
place. “Research shows cold showers
can increase the production of white
blood cells, which fight infection,” says
Weeks. “Just a blast of chilly water at
the end of your usual shower will do.”“MAKE A
COLD-BUSTING
SMOOTHIE”
says dermatologist
Sam Bunting.
“When my appetite
is low but my body
craves vitamins and
minerals, I survive
on apple juice with
vitamin-packed kiwis
and antioxidant-rich
blueberries and
strawberries. I whizz
them up with some
anti-inflammatory
flaxseed and goji berry
powder,” says Bunting.“STOP EXERCISING”
says senior sports scientist Brian
Cunniffe. “I tend to scale back my
training at the first sign of a cold,”
says Cunniffe. “Exercise triggers the
release of stress hormones, which
have an immunosuppressive effect
on your body. Ordinarily, this is fine
but if you have the start of a cold,
working out could exacerbate
and/or prolong your symptoms.”“DRINK A SPECIAL BREW”
says traditional Chinese
medicine acupuncturist Lily Yu.
“I drink plenty of amachazuru tea ($
for teabags, chinalifeweb.com ),” says
Yu. “It’s known as the ‘immortality herb’.
Ginger and cinnamon tea are also very
warming and full of antioxidants.”“TUCK IN TO
ICE BLOCKS”
says botanist James Wong.
“When I feel like I’m coming
down with something, I plan
a cold-fighting menu,” says
Wong. “I start with shiitake
mushrooms on toast, as
these contain a powerful,
immune-boosting substance
called lentinan. Then I finish
off with an echinacea ice lolly- made by mixing echinacea
tincture with fruit juice –
which feels more like a treat
than a remedy, and is great
for a sore throat, too.” #
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